Sho 1

The sho is a set of free reeds often called a mouth organ.
It is very similar in construction to the Chinese sheng. It
consists of 17 bamboo pipes of five different sizes mounted
symmetrically according to height on a black lacquered
wooden wind chest. The player blows into the mouthpiece,
which is made of metal and extends from the wind chest. 14
out of 17 pipes are fitted with small metal reeds. When the
player covers an outside finger-hole, the air comes in
contact with the reed and makes it sound. A small metal band
encircles the reeds, keeping them together. There is a small
opening between two of the smaller bamboo pipes. The sho
is one of the supporting instruments in the togaku court
orchestra, where it produces 4 or 5 note harmonic clusters
based on the lowest pitch, which outlines the main melody.
The arrangement of the pipes represents the shape of the
kirin, or phoenix. The player prepares the instrument by
heating it over a hibachi or an electric hot plate.This
sho has bamboo pipes stained with a clear lacquer. The wind
chest is black lacquered wood.

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The sho is a set of free reeds often called a mouth organ.
It is very similar in construction to the Chinese sheng. It
consists of 17 bamboo pipes of five different sizes mounted
symmetrically according to height on a black lacquered
wooden wind chest. The player blows into the mouthpiece,
which is made of metal and extends from the wind chest. 14
out of 17 pipes are fitted with small metal reeds. When the
player covers an outside finger-hole, the air comes in
contact with the reed and makes it sound. A small metal band
encircles the reeds, keeping them together. There is a small
opening between two of the smaller bamboo pipes. The sho
is one of the supporting instruments in the togaku court
orchestra, where it produces 4 or 5 note harmonic clusters
based on the lowest pitch, which outlines the main melody.
The arrangement of the pipes represents the shape of the
kirin, or phoenix. The player prepares the instrument by
heating it over a hibachi or an electric hot plate.This
sho has bamboo pipes stained with a clear lacquer. The wind
chest is black lacquered wood.